We have adopted three cats from this facility. I was also one of the volunteers for a while before…read moregoing back to school, so I have had first-hand experience of how the operation is run. Although it is a small shelter, they're very meticulous and take really good care of the cats. Each feline is "vetted", receives their shots, and is spayed or neutered before being adopted, so all of the medical necessities are included in the adoption "fee" (which makes it quite the bargain). All cats are screened for parasites and other ailments such as FIV and FIP (which is something that many pet stores do not do... a very sad lesson that a friend of mine learned the hard way) and are monitored for a period of time before being made available for adoption. There is a small army of dedicated foster parents and volunteers that care for the cats, making sure they are healthy and their personalities are suitable for being adopted, before they are moved into the "cattery" for viewing and, hopefully, adoption. The cages and litter boxes are cleaned and disinfected several times a week, and the cats are offered lots of time out to play and interact. There is such a sense of security when looking to adopt an animal from C.A.R. because you never have to worry about illness beyond a little winter cold (yep, cats get colds, too!)
This is also a no-kill shelter. And unlike some places, you will never find the "it's just a cat" attitude here. The adoption process might seem a bit off-putting for those who are used to pet stores who will sell any animal to literally anyone without question, but C.A.R.'s goal is to make sure that everyone involved... both your family and the cat... will be happy. After all, adopting an animal is a commitment, and fates willing, you will have your pet for many, many years! They're very good about making sure that the cat's personality (shy, dominant, skittish, friendly, etc.) is right for your family and your home (single- or multi-cat home, families with or without children, families with or without dogs, etc.) The comfort, health, and safety of the cat is paramount.
As I mentioned, we've adopted three cats from C.A.R. All three have been amazing... 100% litter-trained, healthy as horses, and absolute angels, with completely different personalities! Our lives are so much more complete with our little furbabies, and we really can't thank C.A.R. enough for taking such good care of them while they waited to come home.